Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
August 21, 2013

Nathan Worrell on his way to winning the 600m during the Inter-Camp Games today.
More than 200 children from 64 summer camps held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs participated in the Inter-Camp Games at the the National Stadium this morning.
The athletes whose ages ranged from seven to 15 were divided into four zones, North, East, Central and South, and competed in several races including the 60 metres, 100m and 150m, long jump and the cricket ball throw.
Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley opened the games and said they fitted into his ministry’s mandate of grooming young boys and girls into responsible citizens from an early age.
He said the national sports camps and all the programmes and activities were designed to achieve this critical objective that would redound to the benefit of the country as a whole.
“We want also to suggest that this competition today provides another opportunity for us to expand the frequency of athletic competition among our young athletes.
More importantly, that as a government we are able to provide the type of training and enabling environment that will allow athletes to grow and develop their athletic skills,” he said.
Lashly added: “As a Government we are committed to unearthing and developing this talent since in the National Youth Policy we have articulated that there is a role for sports development not only to foster discipline and team work among our young people but more importantly to assume a pivotal role as a principal generator of income and foreign exchange for our young people.”
Director of Youth Cleviston Hunte, who welcomed the athletes and spectators to the Games, later in the afternoon told Barbados TODAY the games had returned to the National Stadium after a two-year break and despite some minor challenges were off to a rousing start.
“I am pleased with the level of participation from the camp directors, counsellors and camp assistants. Several of them are here this morning assisting with the games while others are sitting in the stands cheering lusty for their zones,” Hunte said, noting that the large public turn-out was an indication that they were happy with the manner the camps were being managed. (DH)